Venetian blind head bar organization



Oct. 21, 1952 NE I 2,614,623

.VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BAR, ORGANIZATION Filed Jan, 18, 1950 2Sl-lEETS-SHEE'I l \NVENTOR HARRY NHSO/V BY A I M -244 HIS ATTORNEYS Oct.21, 1952 H. NELSON 2,614,623

' VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BAR ORGANIZATION Filed Jan; 18, 1950 2 sums-sum 2INVENTOR HARRY M5; 50

mfir' h HIS ATTORNEYS blind.

Patented Oct. 21,1952 1 VENETIANjELIND HEADBAR v ORGANIZATION I jllarry-z Nelson; New York,

e en ari war v M -i C rn-,2,

12% o. as -i n r m aco nq a of N w Yor Seria -N 13 18 nrglicatibnla ua y1 'In -certainforms of enclosed heads, the head bar is} forr'nedof; asheet metal channel having .openings-formedindts bottom wall for passageof theladder'tape'branchesand the lift cordsand tilt c'ords* of -theVenetian blind. Theuladder tapes "of the blind are suspended from taperockers which 'aremounted atintervals along a tilt rod, 'runninglengthwise-of the headbar one tape rocker being provided foreach laddertape of the Tilt rod cradles alie' provided-{to support the tilt rodadjacenteach tape rofker. The tilt rod cradles for} the laddertapeswhich have a lift cord-associated therewith are also' provided withacord-guide pulley to; facilitate leading the lift cord alongjthe headbar and to afcord lock fitting adjacent an end 'thereofa' This general ytype of headbarnssemblyis more fully" disclosed in my SIN.778,002,'filed October depending application- 4, 1947. v

' I-n the form of removable slat-blind here shown,

the slats inayberemovedfrom-the blind without firstiwi-thdrawing'thelift cords from the slats, the lift cords-of the blind of-- the; presentinvention being 'reeved through notches fornfledyalong the edgesof'thesl'ats. In sucha; construction, it is desirable'to have" the cordguide pulleylocated at'the s'ideof the cradle ratherthan-located abovethe longitudinalcenter line of the slats as in the usual construction.Qne

alongthe forwardedge (toward the oprator) of the slats andthe'otherliftcord is --positioned 'aliong the' rear edge of the slatstoprevent tilting 01' -t1i8-b'dtt 0m bethby the lift cords.

' Among'the objects of xth'e present invention is *to prov'ide animproved'tilt rod cradle for rerhovableslat blinds of fth'e general typehere shown that provides 'arnpleclearance for free passageof the liftcords, that'i's reversible end for end soithat rightsand'lefts arenot'required', and that'is. dependable and long-lived andmanufactured:;of-a single sheetg metal-stampingiv Another aob'jectnis togenerally improve head bar organizations for; certain types of removableslat blinds, and tilt rodcradlesytherefor.

;Furtiher subjects objects relating. to details and -economie s;..of;construction manufacture and use; will; mere; :definitelyiappear fromthe detailed description to;follow. 1 'j In: the form shown of, :thepresent invention, the t; rod, cradle comprises astamped: sheet -metal'tbodyi havingia base, portion-"adapted to be monnted mjthe nsidetbottomwall o'fiachannel- .shancdqIheald bartand-zzancunstanding leg portion wlift cord'is' positioned the base.

the head bar.

at. one end for I supporting theqtllt'rod. tionprojecting from' one sideoithe c d My invention is clearly claims. In the claims, as well: as inthe descrip.- tion, parts are at times identified -by--speciflc namesforclarity and convenience, butsuchwnomenclature is to-be understood as.havingzthfi broadest meaning consistent with ,the.;context and with theconcept of my invention asjdlstinr guished from the pertinent prior art.Theqbest form in which I have. contemplated applying my invention is.illustrated in. the accompanying drawings forming part of thespecification in which:

Fig. l is a perspectiv incorporating the. present invention; portions ofthe front wall of the head ibaran'd' ofithe ladder tapes being brokenaway to shoW details of? con-,- struction. I i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective ofthe cradle-receiving portion ofthe head bar;

Fig. 3 is atop plan view of one of the tilt-rod cradles. i'

Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of th'e 'ti1t-rod cradle. A section of liftcord is shown reeved through the cradle. the cord and pulley beingpositioned for use at-the right end of thehead bar.

' Fig. 5 'is a right'end view of the tiltsrod cradle.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the other side of the tiltrod cradle. Asectionof lift cord isvshown reeved through the cradle and the cradle,pulley and cord are positioned for use at the -lei-tend ofthe head bar.

Fig. 7 is a development ofthe cradleJbod-y stamping, showing itsrelation to adjacent'cradle body stampings during manufacture.

Referring now to 1, the removable slat blindtherein'shown includes achannel-shaped sheet me al hea ar '0, e the. o mw ll; H of which. aserio fitt nssat mq nied to provide. e o e t g mech n sm of t l nd Thesefittings include a cord lock {2 at the right end of theheadba-r, a pairof tilt rod cradles-l4, l4, ne l ate d a n h end; of? he (new bana aatil-te th i en o t e nd ba -v. Atiit rod 11 e ten s. ensthwisecistheTbAILQ RG-Z JSE QQPQ T' QQL andgirotated;byathat,. .e

defined inthe appended viewl'of' a Venetian blind placement of theslats. the slats are individually removable for cleaning and supportedby the tilt rod cradles l4, 14. A tape rocker I6 is: mounted on the tiltrod adjacent each tilt rod cradle l4, the tape rockers being adapted toreceive the upper ends of the ladder tapes l9, l9. This organization isgenerally similar to that shown in my copending application Ser. No.778,002.

The lift cords20, 20 are reeved in the blind with one lift cord (in thisinstance the right one) being located in front of each of the slats 22of the blind and the other lift cord being reeved in rear of the slatsof the blind. The lift cords lie between a vertical branch of the laddertapes I9,

l9 and the slats 22 and preferably the edges of the slats are slightlynotched to partly receive the lift cords so as to prevent fortuitousdis- In this type of blind,

without disconnecting thelower ends of the lift cords 20,20 from thebottom bar 24.

The lift cords 20, Zil are brought upwardly through the bottom wall llof the headbar, one adjacent the front and one adjacent the rear wall ofthe head bar so that the lift cords will run straight from the headbarto the bottom bar.

Each'tilt rod cradle I4 of the present invention comprises asingle-piece sheet metal stamp ing having a generally flat base 25. Thebase 25 may be provided with a pair of shallow elongated notches 26, 26,one on each side thereof, for reception of tabs 21 and 28, 28 (to bedescribed later), which are struck up from the bottom wall of the headbar and bent down against the cradle base. The shallow notches 26, 26may be interrupted as indicated in Fig. 2 for convenience of stampingthe body of the cradle and to provide clearance for the lift cord 20reeved through the cradle.

Raised beads 32, extending parallel to the notches 26, 26, and locatedinwardly a short distance from the notches, serve to reinforce the baseagainst bending and serve as surfaces againstwhich the head bar tabs maybe bent to hold the cradle in position. A longitudinal, upwardly-pressedcorrugation 33 extending for the length of the-base 25 between thenotches 25, 26 further reinforces the base against bending.

A laterally-extending portion 34 of the cradle base, extending centrallyfrom one side thereof, may be folded upwardly and then back upon itselfin parallel-spaced relation to form a boxlike pulley housing 35 havingopen ends and bottom, the space between the side walls 36 and 31 of thehousing accommodating a pulley 39. The edges of the housing 35 areslightly flared to prevent fraying of the lift cord 20 reeved throughthecradle. Preferably, the laterally-extending portion 34 of the baseextends within the marginal limits of the base itself, interrupting oneof the notches 26, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7, the metal beingsevered in a continuation of the extending portion 34 to permit formingthe housing 35 over one of the notches 26.

The side walls 36 and 3! of the pulley housing are provided with alignedor registering inverted V-shaped slots 4!], these slots being centeredon the transverse center line of the base. Preferably, each of theseslots is slightly wider at its mid-portion and tapers towards each end.The slots 4!), 40 receive a rivet 4|, this rivet serving as an axle forthe pulley 39. The rivet 4| is not clinched tightly against the sidewalls of the housing 35 but is free to be shifted along the slots 40,40, the rivet passing freely along the central portion of each slot butwedging in the end portions of the slots so as to prevent rotation ofthe rivet in pulley:

Eaclr tilt rod cradle I4 is provided with a substantially verticalupstanding leg 42 at one end of the base 25, this leg having a tilt rodbearing 44 at its upper end and located on the longitudinal center lineof the cradle. The bearing 44 may comprise an outwardly projectingflange to provide an extended area for receiving the tilt rod I5.

Theupper part of the vertical leg 42 is provided with arigid tab 45opposite the bearing 44 which is bent-inwardly and back upon itself ingenerally parallel spaced relation. This tab is provided to limitendwise movement of the associated tape rocker 5, as explained in myapplication S. N. 110,517, filed August 16, 1949.

The upp r front portion of the leg 42 is provided with a pair ofoutwardly extending parallel tabs 46 and 41, the tab 46 being somewhatlonger and located a little higher than the tilt rod bearing 44. Thelocation and proportions of the tabs .6 and 41 are such that, afterinsertion of the tilt rod I5 in the cradles l4, [4, the portion 49 ofthe leg 42, including the tabs 46 and, may be bent outwardly throughthus locating the tab 46 just above the tilt rod to retain it in thebearing 44 and placingthe tab 41 across the end of the tilt rod l5 toprevent its endwise movement. The tilt rod terminates just to the rightof the right hand cradle [4.

Since the tilt rod [5 is commonly received within the tilter [3, it isusually unnecessary to restrain the tilt rod I5 against movementupwardly from the tilt rod bearing 44 except at the cradle 34 furtherremoved-from the tilter, and it is only at such cradle that the tilt rodend stop tab 41 can function. However, the tab 46 of the other cradle l5may be bent independently of the tab 41 to a position overlying the tiltrod bearing, if desired. V

A large, forwardly opening notch 50 of the form indicated in Figs. 5 and7 is formed in the leg 42 on the same side of the cradle as the pulleyhousing 35. The notch 50 provides ample clearance for passage lift cords20, 20 so as to permit free running of the cords when raising andlowering the blind. Reeving of the lift cords 20, 2.0 is alsofacilitated by the notch 50, since the cords need not be passed throughapertures in the upstanding legs of the tilt rod cradles as in'someconstructions. An outwardly-extending guide tab 5| may be provided atthe rear of the notch 50 to provide a smooth bearing opposite the liftcord so as to prevent possible fraying of the cords in. the event theyshould at times run against the rear wall of the notch. Thisconstruction is shown in my'aforementioned copending applications. N.110,517.

The upwardly-pressed bead or corrugation 33 of the cradle base may becarried around the bend and into the leg 42 to reinforce the iniuno tionagainst. bending, while the portion ofthe leg 42 reduced in width by thenotch 50 may be reinforced by an inwardly-directed flange 54 extendingalong its rear edge.

The lower edge of the notch 50 is so formed so as to eave a short flange55 extending upwardly from t e base 25, this flange being in the planeof the leg 42. This flange is not high enough to interfere with passageof the lift cords and serves to stiffen the base 25 against'bending. Acorresponding flange 56,,which may be slightly higher and still notinterfere with the lift cords, is located at the opposite end of thebase 25.

the slots upon rotation of the These flanges aid in reinforcing the baseof the cradle.

The cradles l4, Hi, the cord lock l2 and the tilter l3 are held in placealong the bottom wall of the head bar H] by tabs which are struck upfrom the bottom wall of the head bar, the tabs being bent down againstportions of their bases. This general method of securing the operatingfittingsto the head in my copending patent application S. N. 778,002. Aportion 53 between the tabs 28, 28 may be cut away to provide clearanceunder the pulley housing for passage of the lift cord.

The cradle 14 adjacent the left end of the head bar Ill is turned endfor end or reversed to place the pulley housing adjacent the rear wallof the head bar, as indicated in Fig. 1. of both cradles are moved tothe right (towards the cord lock l2) before the lift cords 28, 20 arereeved so that the cords will lead down opposite the transverse centerline of the cradles, the pulley axle 4i resting at the rightends of theslats 40, 4B in each instance.

To reeve the lift cord into a complete blind assembly, the right handbranch or lift cord 20 is passed through the pulley assembly of theright hand cradle (adjacent the front wall of the head bar) downwardlybetween the vertical branches of the right hand ladder tape and anchoredto the bottom bar. The left hand branch or lift cord 20 is ledrearwardly of the right hand branch past the open notch of the righthand cradle, reeved through the pulley housing of the left hand cradle(adjacent the rear wall of the head bar), passed downwardly between thevertical branches of the left hand ladder tape, and anchored to thebottom bar.

I claim:

1. A tilt rod cradle for Venetian blinds of the enclosed-head type inwhich the lift cords are reeved between the slats and supporting laddertapes, said cradle comprising: a stamped metal body having a baseportion adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of an enclosed headbar; an upstanding leg at one end of the base portion adapted to receivea tilt rod, the leg having an open notch on one side thereof providingclearance for passage of the lift cords of the blind; a side portion ofthe base on the same side as the notch being folded upwardly and backupon itself in spaced parallel relation to form a pulley housing, theside walls of the pulley housing having registering inverted V-shapedslots extending across the transverse center line of the cradle, a cordpulley within the housing and a pulley axle received in the slots andmounting the pulley,

(the pulley axle being shiftable within the slots to position the pulleyat either side of the transverse center line of the cradle.

2. A tilt rod cradle for Venetian blinds of the enclosed-head type inwhich the lift cords are reeved between the slats and supporting laddertapes, said cradle comprising: a stamped metal body having a baseportion adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of an enclosed headbar; an upstanding leg at one end of the base portion adapted to receivea tilt rod, the leg having an open notch on one side thereof providingclearance for passage of the lift cords of the blind; a side portion ofthe base on the same side' as the notch being folded upwardly and backupon itself in spaced parallel relation to form a pulley housing, theside walls of the pulley housing having The pulleys 39 bar is more fullydisclosed registering slots extending across the transverse center lineof the cradle, a cord pulley within the housing and a pulley axlereceived in the slots and mounting the pulley, the pulley axle beingshiftable Within the slots to position the pulley at either side of thetransverse center line of the cradle.

3. In an enclosed head bar assembly for Venetian blinds, a sheet metalchannel, a tilter mounted at one end of the channel, a cord lock mountedat the other end of the channel, and a pair of identical tilt rodcradles mounted on the channel between the tilter and-cord lock, each ofsaid cradles having a lift cord pulley mounted at one side of thebase,one of the cradles beingv turned end-for-end to provide for reeving onelift cord through the bottom of the channel adjacent the front wall ofthe head bar and the other lift cord through the bottom of the channeladjacent the rear wall, the pulley of each cradle being mounted forshifting movement longitudinally of the head bar.

4. In an enclosed head bar assembly for Venetian blinds, a sheet metalchannel, a tilter mounted at one end of the channel, and a cord lockmounted at the other end of the channel, and a pair of identical tiltrod cradles mounted on the channel between the tilter and cord lock,each of said cradles having a lift cord pulley mounted at one side ofthe base, one of the cradles being turned end-for-end to provide forreeving one lift cor-d through the bottom of the channel adjacent thefront wall of the head bar and the other lift cord through the bottom ofthe channel adjacent the rear Wall, the pulley of each cradle beingmounted for shifting movement longitudinally of the head bar betweenopposite sides of the transverse center line of the cradle.

5. A tilt rod cradle for Venetian blinds of the enclosed-head type inwhich the lift cords are reeved between the slats and the supportingladder tapes, said cradle comprising: a stamped metal body having a baseportion adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of an enclosed headbar; an upstanding leg at one end of the base portion adapted to receivea tilt red, the leg having an open notch on one side thereof providingclearance for passage of the lift cords of the blind; a side portion ofthe base on the same side as the notch being formed to provide a pulleyhousing having two parallel vertical side walls, the side walls of thepulley having registering slots extending across the transverse centerline of the cradle base portion, a cord pulley within the housing and apulley axle received in the slots and mounting the pulley, the pulleyaxle being shiftable within the slots to position the pulley at eitherside of the transvers center line of the cradle.

HARRY NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

